The Dragon Blast

HEADLINES:

• OPEN GUARD HEADS TO OHIO FOR WGI
• IMS GIFT SHOP TIME - SIGN UP BEFORE 4/18!
• WINTER COMPETITIVE WRAP UP
• NPBBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS - UPDATE
  
• SOCIAL SHOT
• LAUNDRY & DISH DETERGENT & TRASH BAG ORDER FORM
• ... DAD JOKE!
  

Stay Involved! Stay in the Arts!

npbbliaison@gmail.com

April 13th - 6:30pm: IMS Gift Shop meeting in the NPJH Band Room (enter via door #16)

Full NPJH Calendar Link

April 13th - 6:30pm: IMS Gift Shop meeting in the NPJH Band Room (enter via door #16)

April 19th - 6:30 PM: NPHS ISSMA Preview Concert
April 21st: Symphonic Band (Period 3) at ISSMA Festival
April 21st: Wind Ensemble (Period 1) at ISSMA Festival
April 22nd: Concert Band (Periods 2 and 7) at ISSMA Festival

April 26th - Time TBD: NPBBA Board of Directors Elections

May 9th: Senior Recital Night

May 17th: NPHS Bands Award Night

May 24th: Fall 2023 Marching Band Meeting and SHOW REVEAL!
Friday OR Saturday, May 26th/27th: Commencement (Periods 1 and 3) Performance

For exact times and updates, see the Calendar on New Pal Bands Website, check with your student, or with Mr. Carney.

The NPHS Varsity Winter Guard will join hundreds of other teams from all across the United States in Ohio for Winter Guard International (WGI) World Finals April 13th - 15th. Similar to the top of the IHSCGA circuit, WGI showcases the best of the best in 3 classes: A, Open, and World. In 2022, the New Palestine Varsity guard made it's first trip to WGI in several years to compete in the A class event. In 2023, the decision was made to take the group to the next level and enter the Open class.

After earning a State Finalist placement in their first year in Open class (awesome accomplishment!), the group has been preparing to take their show "All The Lonely People" to our neighboring state. In addition to the amazing performance opportunity, the New Pal unit is looking forward to watching the elite teams from across the US compete on the national stage.

These sorts of events are what makes the competitive Performing Arts so incredibly powerful. Yes, there will be a lot (hundreds!) of talented units. Of those units, only 1 will earn the title of champion of their class. While it's wonderful to receive the highest score by the judges, "Winning" is not determined by scores or placements- It's felt inside!

In this activity (marching, guard, indoor percussion - all of it) participants are constantly asked to give it their all; to beat the previous "best". The hope is that the process becomes a part of you. When others quit because something is too hard - you have the strength to stand and push through the pain, the struggle, the disappointment, the challenge - and WIN.

If defeating your previous best were easy, more people would do it.

But it's not easy. It is very hard!

Overcoming your previous "best", especially when the pressure is at its highest, is an accomplishment no trophy can reward. After every show, the practice resumes, and the definition of your "best" will change. That is.. practice resumes after every show except for one show - your last show. ;)

For the kids:

"The end crowns the work"

You've all worked so very hard-

WGI represents the end of this journey-

NOW GO PUT YOUR CROWN ON IT!

Alan Ausbrooks

NPBB Community Liaison/Online Coordinator

And proud father of an incredible Senior, whom is my all-time favorite guard performer. Thank you for letting me take this walk with you, A. It has been an amazing journey. ❤️‍🐲🏳️⭐

*(I've been doin this gig for about 4 years.. figured I could finally make a shameless parent plug. F.C.O.)

IYKYK! It's time to get signed up to work at the track gift shop!

The company that runs the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Gift Shops have (again) invited the New Palestine Band Boosters to run the LARGEST (and ONLY air-conditioned) stand-alone gift shop for the 2023 racing season! These days are long days, but they are fun days! Rub elbows with fellow Boosters and get to know each other a little -for a REALLY good cause.

The IMS Gift Shop is the top earning fundraiser for our program.. by a lot. However, it requires lots of help - from you - to run it like only NPHS Band Boosters can. It's why we are asked back year after year! In appreciation of your hard work we have created a credit-program to share in the value of this fundraiser:

• Earn up to $100 towards your 2023 Dues. (two $50 credits for two shifts worked, per student acct)
• Limitless profit sharing (work all the days, get all the shares!) *a portion of the final check is divided between every available shift. If you work 2 shifts, you get 2 shares of that amount. If you work 10 shifts, you get 10 shares. Make sense? Cool huh?!

April 13th - 6:30pm - At the NP Junior High Band Room (enter at Door #16)

Because 25% of our volunteer pool will be incoming Freshman parents, we are having a special meeting to bring them up to speed. Anyone that has questions is welcome to attend.

There are three big changes to this years Gift Shop:

• Volunteers must be +18 years old.
  
• There is a waiver that MUST be completed upon signing up.
• The sign up window is not very long. Sign ups and Signed Waivers must be completed by April 18th. (so check your calendar and grab your dates as soon as you can)

There are a couple lesser tweaks that have also gone into effect

• must be in "uniform" at all times
• provided shirt (be sure to include size on signup) * plan to wear NP/Band gear/show shirt to the track just in case staff shirts are not available
• Black pants/shorts (no jeans)
• Closed-toe shoes (no sandals/flops)
• Tattoos must be covered

• no partial shifts (no late arrivals or early departures)
• must bring ID to each event
  
• subject to background check

The sign up is OPEN - so grab your spot(s) as soon as you can and get ready for another great May at IMS!

For information about how to become a sponsor, or how to make a donation to the program, please contact our Sponsorship Coordinator.

In the words of the luminous Season McMillan:

"They audioed and theatered their way to state! Filling their journey with long bus rides and quick fast food trips that took too long, they placed an impressive 4th in Northview followed by matching 8th places in Noblesville and Center Grove. After packing in the practices, they traveled to Avon for State Preliminaries and secured their advancement with 7th place. One final hectic shuffle took them to proudly stand among many other impressive bands at The Hullman Center for well-deserved recognition. Audio Theater ended an awesome 2023 season by performing their program "Waves" at IPA State Finals in Terre Haute and placing 12th.

Congratulations to the entire New Palestine Audio Theater for an exciting season"

"Space Oddity" and the Regional A guard arrived at their final destination at the Semi-State competition this year. Having seen the show, and the crowd response at the Community Performance, it is very clear that the program is going to be in great shape for the coming seasons! Congratulations to you all for a fantastic year and thank you for all your hard work and dedication!

The 2023 Glitter Dragons show "What Dreams Are Made Of" was a huge success. I don't remember a Cadet team with as many GOLD placements (I'm not sure if they even got a Silver?!) in my 6 years of being around the activity. As with the RA Guard, it is VERY exciting to see the successes of our younger units. Can't wait to see what next year brings for these young talented Dragons!

The 2023-24 NPBBA Board of Directors election will take place on April 26th.

The pendulum is currently on the side of holding an In-Person election.

The elephant in the room has been the construction/destruction of the High School around the band room. There are several areas that were to be torn down during Spring Break - but as luck would have it, they are still standing.

If you are a Voting Booster that will NOT be able to be present, and want to vote, please reach out to the Nominating Committee as soon as possible:

aausbro51@yahoo.com

amybeth601@gmail.com

We are looking into options to include those that are not able to attend. This procedure is not in our Bylaws, but the hope is that we can come up with an approved process to include all that wish to be counted. If we are unable to achieve this, only in-person votes will be counted.

(Voting Boosters are comprised of parents or guardians of middle and high school students
participating in all High School band and guard programs of the Community School Corporation of
Southern Hancock County.)

(right to left)

Audio Theater Indoor Percussion, RA Winter Guard, Door 34 Jazz, Open Winter Guard, Glitter Dragons Winter Guard

SEE LOTS OF PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES ON FACEBOOK!!

Thank you to everyone that continues to order from this fundraiser. Your continued support of our program is awesome. If you haven't tried it, go for it!

Banana-naaaaas... Banana-naaaaas!

Volunteer reading tutor program in all three elementary schools for the 2022-2023 school year.